Colts' biggest hitter a softy

Sanders dedicates game to ex-coach Moore, parents

MIAMI — When Colts free safety Bob Sanders takes the field for Super Bowl XLI, he'll have plenty of people on his mind besides Rex Grossman and Bernard Berrian.

There will be parents Marion and Jean, his seven siblings and all his old coaches--one in particular.

"I was blessed that Joe Moore was in my life," Sanders said. "It would be a great feeling to see him here. I know he's watching from up above. He's in a great place now."

Moore, who died in 2003 at 71, was a Notre Dame assistant known as one of the best offensive line coaches of his time. In 1998 Moore won an age-discrimination lawsuit against Notre Dame when he was let go by coach Bob Davie in 1996. After that he settled in Erie, Pa., and became an assistant at Cathedral Prep High School.

Moore took a liking to a 5-foot-8-inch kid who packed as much power per pound as any defensive back should be allowed.

In 1972 Moore had coached at Upper St. Clair (Pa.) High. Among his players was Kirk Ferentz, now the head coach at Iowa. Moore gave his old pupil a call when he discovered that the only Division I school showing interest in Sanders was Ohio University.

Ferentz took a chance on Sanders, who made Moore look good, becoming a starter as a freshman and earning the nickname "The Hitman."

Sanders got enough leverage to become a star in the Big Ten. The Colts were glad to get a player who has proved to be a first-round talent in the second round in 2004.

"You couldn't miss Bob Sanders," Colts President Bill Polian said. "If you didn't have eyes, you'd here the thud when he hit people. He had a [foot] injury that caused him to fall on draft boards, and then there was the height."

Ever the optimist, Sanders believes he has succeeded in turning his height into an advantage.

"I think it's helped me out," he said. "When coaches teach tackling, it's always about staying low to the ground. It's all about leverage. When you're going against a guy in wrestling or whatever it may be, it's about leverage. Whoever gets underneath is going to win 99 percent of the time."

On Sunday, Sanders will be motivated by memories of Moore and of what his parents did for him. His father worked at Erie Metals & Iron until he retired five years ago.

"I realize what my parents had to go through to raise eight kids," said Sanders, 25, whose five sisters and two brothers range in age from 23 to 39. "To struggle, how hard it was for them and having dreams that were hard to fulfill."

Sanders took that attitude to the NFL, where he battled injuries as a rookie and went to the Pro Bowl last season, the only one of his three in which he has played every game.

This season Sanders played in only four regular-season games because of a knee injury. His return for the playoffs has been cited as the major reason the Colts have been so effective against the run in the playoffs after being last in the league in the regular season. In three playoff games, he has 20 tackles and one interception.

"He brings attitude, and he's another Pro Bowl player out there," Bears center Olin Kreutz said. "You can see with him back in the lineup what kind of defense they have."

Sanders said he prides himself on his instincts.

"My awareness is really good," he said. "I read the tackles, guards, running backs and everything. I think my instincts are good, and I attack each play in a physical way. I enjoy doing it, and I'm blessed to have the ability."